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Friday, October 24, 2014

~ Symposium: A New Day Has Come ~

Hello Everyone! Welcome to my October Symposium!

Since this is my author anniversary month, I’ve asked my friends and fellow authors to reflect back to the beginning of their careers to tell us how they got started writing. All of us have different backgrounds, but the love of the written word connects us like nothing else could. Read on and find out how some of your favorite authors got their start!

LAURIE ROMA: After graduating from law school with my JD and LLM, I was doing International Trade and Customs work...and nothing could have been more boring. A twist of fate had me changing directions, and I got into movie production, becoming an editor and screenwriter. I started writing romance as a hobby, and when I submitted my first book I was ecstatic when it was accepted for publication. Since then, being an author has become my priority. In fact, I plan to adapt one of my screenplays into a romance novel sometime next year and I'm also adapting another to release under my new YA pen name. I still have plans to pursue movie and television production, but being an author is the best job anyone could ask for. Thank you to all my readers for letting me entertain you, and here’s hoping I will continue to do so for many more years to come! Happy Reading!

Daryk “Dare” Nyght is a man on the edge. As a trauma surgeon in the Army, he has seen his share of combat, but his high-risk lifestyle has left him burnt out and in desperate need of some peace. A man without a home, Dare heads to the small town of Breakers to get some rest and spend some time with a few friends, but what he finds there is more than he ever expected... Evelyn Beaumont is a woman who seems to have it all. Evie has grace, beauty and wealth, but she hides from painful memories by burying herself in her work at the rescue center she runs. When these two lost souls come together in a clash of wills, the sparks between them are undeniable. Will passion be enough or can they find a way to open their hearts for a chance at true love?

EVANGELINE ANDERSON: I have always loved to write and I've always had a dirty mind. As a teenager I would write wild and naughty romances and then burn them in the fireplace so my mom didn't read them and have a heart attack. I didn't write much of anything but very bad poetry in college and then I got caught up in my marriage, and career. It wasn't until I was thirty that the writing bug bit me again. I found some erotic romance publishers on-line and thought, "Well, I could write that!" So I did. I took a class at my local community college as well and found a writing group I loved. I started writing, started submitting, and finally started getting published. From there, writing grew from a hobby to a profession. It's a blessing for me because I have a son on the Autism spectrum and being a writer means my schedule is flexible enough to take him to therapy 6 days a week. I love what I do so much and I feel so happy and blessed to do something I'm passionate about for a living.

Commander Stavros Rii of the Kindred is a Sin Eater--thick black lines cover his back and neck causing him to feel the pain of others. It is a curse that threatens to shorten his life and makes him unable to bond with a female--not that he's ever found one he wants to bond with. Until he meets Charlie.

Charlie Sayers is an agent with the Earth Protection Bureau-- and anti Kindred agency dedicated to ridding the world of the big aliens. Charlie joined the EPB out of a sense of patriotism but she has her own reasons to hate the Kindred.

But she has bigger problems than the Kindred at the moment--the Enhanced Ones have come to Earth and they're planning to take over the planet, enslave the inhabitants and strip them of all emotion. Charlie can't have that so she agrees to go undercover with Stavros to find the Heart of Love--an artifact which can destroy their mutual enemy forever.

On their dangerous and difficult mission, Charlie learns that going undercover with your worst enemy can rapidly turn him into your best friend...or your lover. Can she hold on to her beliefs and stay true to herself, or will she lose her heart to Stavros? And even if she gives in to desire, will Stav be able to bond her to him?

Or are they Cursed to be apart forever?

Cursed, the 13th book in Evangeline's Brides of the Kindred Series and is coming out on Oct 31st!

NJ WALTERS: Like all writers, I began as a reader. One day, I decided to try my hand at writing. I actually wrote two books, but they weren’t that good and I put them away. About seven years later, I saw an online contest by a bestselling romance author. I had to submit the first chapter of my book. Problem was, I didn’t have a book. So I set about writing one, or at least the first chapter. I had two days to do it in order to meet the deadline. My chapter didn’t place in the contest but I finished the book and revised it. Then I sent it out to a publisher. Annabelle Lee became my first published book and I haven’t stopped writing since.

Is he Prince Charming or the Big Bad Wolf? Salvation Pack, Book 2

Anny Conrad is a single thirty-year-old librarian—a cliché complete with two cats. Dragged out to a local bar, she’s rethinking her life plan over a few drinks when a man walks up and asks her to dance. And what a man. Tall, rugged and more than a little untamed. Before she knows it, she’s in his arms and throwing caution to the wind. With a pack war in full, deadly swing, the last thing Armand LaForge needs right now is a woman in his life, much less a human. But one thing is certain, he’s met his mate, the one woman in the world for him. The kindest thing to do is give her all the hot sex she wants and then leave her alone. But when the morning comes, fate isn’t done screwing with them. Anny is confronted with the fact that the myths in her library books are real…and now she’s one of them.

LACEY THORN: I discovered erotic romance and fell in love. I’d been mentioning for a few years that I really wanted to try and write a book. Then my dad called and told me he’d self published! I was blown away, and knowing that he’d gone out on the limb gave me the courage to do it as well. I sat and began writing His Bare Obsession. That book is the first book I ever even attempted to write. It reflects my love of B horror movies and strong alpha men. Some loved it, and some hated it. Either way it was the book that launched my writing career. I still have a soft spot for Gil Daniels and his true love Moira Madigan. I’ll be forever grateful to Helen Woodall and Ellora’s Cave Publishing for giving me a platform to launch my career.

Brenna has always been a little on the shy side, or maybe she just feels overshadowed by her more outgoing best friend. Either way, enough is enough. This Halloween, she’s going to have some fun with one of the three hunks she’s had a crush on forever. The only question is—which one might be interested in her?Scott, Travis and Kyle have been the best of friends most of their lives. None of them really planned on coming back to their hometown or finding little Brenna all grown up and sexy as hell. They all want her, and no one is willing to walk away.A full moon, candlelight and the casting of a spell will make this Halloween one none of them will ever forget.

SUSAN HAYES: Like Laurie, I’m celebrating my author anniversary this month. I’ve been a writer since I was old enough to figure out that letters made words and words could tell stories, but it took me until my fourth decade to actually take the plunge and write a book. Writing fiction was very different from the comedy-style articles and lists I’d been writing for a few years, but I was determined to try and write the kind of romances I loved to read. My first attempt was rejected. So was my second, but as the saying goes, the third time’s the charm, and my first title, Whispers in the Dark, was released two years ago. I’ve had the most exhilarating, challenging, hyper-caffeinated years of my life since that first book was published, and it just keeps getting better. For every reader who has read my books, thank you so much. You’ve changed my life.

Summoned into slavery, but unchained by love...

Torn from her world and enslaved by magic, Vela’s life is shattered in the name of greed. Born of a fae race of shifters, her exotic beauty and unique powers have damned her to a life of slavery. But as a true Feral, she will never allow anyone to enslave her spirit or claim her soul.

Torin is the Prince of Stryx, forced to watch as his father’s madness pushes the kingdom closer to the brink of destruction. Strong and true, Torin’s flaw keeps him from being the leader he is meant to be. Upon learning of his father’s plans to breed Vela’s fae abilities into the family bloodline, Torin agrees to marry her rather than subject her to the cruel perversions of his father’s bed.

Worlds collide under the king’s dark reign, but when Torin sets eyes on his bride, her beauty and courage ignite his passions. He knows that he will do anything to keep her at his side and in his bed, but how can Vela ever learn to love a man she is forced to call her master?

JENIKA SNOW: I’ve always been an avid reader, and as far back as I can remember I was writing small stories. But what really got me writing is when my husband saw me with yet another paperback, and told me I should try writing one for myself. I didn’t listen to him for a long time, because I thought I could never write something that people (not including my family J ) would actually want to read. But after he insisted (continuously) I gave it a shot. In 2009 I wrote and submitted my first book (a Sci-Fi, paranormal dimension story) and I have never looked back!

Minka is a human, a dying species that is both weaker and more vulnerable than any other being in the galaxy. Because of this, humans are hunted down and taken to the intergalactic slave auctions to be sold.

Brawn, Thorque, and Lukin are warrior brothers from the planet of Hades. Because their need for finding a female and procreating with her has come upon them, they are in search of one to share.

But when they are forced to land on a planet infested with dangerous beasts, the last thing they think to find is their human mate.

Minka doesn't know the demon-looking warriors that rescued her from certain death, but what she does know is that they want to share her ... and for her to have their babies. Yet despite her fear of the unknown, Minka wants them, too, and knows that fighting is not an option anymore.

REBECCA JOYCE: I think I’ve always been a writer, of some sorts. Yet, it wasn’t until my husband’s first deployment that I really sat in front of the computer to give it go. I needed something to occupy my lonely nights, because let’s face it, there is only so much phone sex you can have before it gets boring, and my friend ‘BOB’ wasn’t cutting it anymore. It didn’t take me long to write my first real book back in 2007, however it took a little bit longer to hit the submit button. It was after my husband’s second deployment that gave me the courage finally to send it in to a publisher. Since then, my world has been a whirlwind of edits, cover art, and publishing. It’s hectic, aggravating and exhausting most of the times, but I wouldn’t give it up for the world.

Savannah Miles is in a rut. Tired of the humdrum of city life, she leaves everything for a grand adventure to go where the wind blows her. Only she didn’t expect the wind to blow her to the small town of Celestial, Montana.

Hercules Meriwether is cursed. A walking, talking caution sign, he lives his life as best as he can, with frequent trips to the emergency room. When Raven calls upon him for a favor, he worries that the Universe is playing another joke on him.

Virgo Hummel wants nothing to do with his home town of Celestial. He is all set to leave when Raven asks for a favor. Unable to deny her anything, he finds himself once again in the Universe’s hands.

Its Festival week in Celestial and everyone is ready for some fun. Accepting the inevitable isn’t easy for three lost souls, especially when the Universe wants them to embrace the Celestial Way.

ROSANNA LEO: Thanks so much to Laurie for allowing me to take part in another great symposium. People often ask how I got started as a romance author and I can answer them with one word: naps. You see, I began writing romance for fun when my eldest son took naps as a baby. He sometimes took three-hour naps and I needed to fill the time with something other than chores. I had always been interested in writing, and dreamed of being an author. Keeping my activities a secret, I started scribbling. Before I knew it, I had my first novel. It was rough and filled with errors, but it started me on the road to publication. I made a point of learning everything I could about writing and began to fix those amateur mistakes. When my publisher, Liquid Silver Books, sent me my first acceptance letter, I was over the moon. Now, about 12 books later, I’m so glad I had the nerve to submit those early books. And I’m really glad my son was a good sleeper.

When Nina Suzuki discovers the body of her best friend Janine, her world turns upside down. Things go from bad to worse when Janine’s corpse seems to transform into that of a large, brown wolf. For the first time, Nina is faced to confront all the clues indicating her BFF was not what she seemed. A letter from the dead woman opens Nina’s eyes to a strange, new world. The same letter warns of a sinister group called the Alpha Brethren, and urges her to find Killian Moon of the Ursa Fishing Lodge and Resort on Gemini Island.

Killian Moon is a jaguar shifter and teen mentor at the Ursa Lodge in Northern Ontario. He may be a comfort and inspiration to confused teen shifters, but he also has a fiery past. His past comes back to haunt him when human Nina arrives at the resort, demanding to speak with him. Demanding answers. Can he trust her with knowledge that will not only change her life, but possibly endanger those around him?

As Killian begrudgingly tutors Nina on all things shifter, their mutual curiosity flares into passionate need. Once they touch, once they succumb to desire, there is no going back. Killian realizes Nina is his mate and they both begin to comprehend the terror threatening those on their shifter-friendly island. He is forced to confront the tragedy in his family and determines to protect Nina at all costs.

But can they protect everyone they love from a cult of dangerous shifters, intent on horror and destruction?

ERIKA REED: Three years ago I was reading on my Kindle and I turned to my husband and said, “Babe, I think I want to try my hand at writing a romance novel.” He looked at me and said, “I think you should go for it. Maybe that will keep you from spending so much money buying them.” I looked at him and snorted, “You wish.” So when I received my acceptance letter from the publisher, a new world had opened to me. My husband called me when I was at the store and told me he had received an email from them and if I wanted him to read it to me. I was so excited and couldn’t wait to get home, so I told him to tell me what it said over the phone. He told me that they were going to publish my book. I squealed and screamed in the store, people around me thought I was nuts. And that’s when my crazy world as a writer began. It brings me great joy knowing that my readers find pleasure in reading my books.

Five years after running away from the man she loved, Peyton Montgomery is coming home.

With nowhere to live, no money in the bank, and still stinging from being served her divorce papers, Peyton is returning to help her mother care for her father after a heart attack. Being back means eventually she’ll run into the man that broke her heart and ruined her for anyone else. When they do cross paths, Peyton soon discovers she wasn’t the only one that lost so much after she left.

Because of one drunken mistake, Jackson Holt lost the woman he loved. Now he has a second chance at mending the relationship he once had with Peyton, but he has a confession he needs to get off his chest before they both can move forward and claim the life and the love they lost the night Peyton left.

VELLA DAY: The challenge! My husband said that since I was spending so much money on books, wouldn’t it be cheaper just to write one? How hard could it be? Man meets woman; they fall in love; something bad happens to keep them apart; he saves her and they live happily ever after. Boy was I WRONG! Never having written anything other than required English essays and some very bad poetry, as a math major, I was about as far away from being a writer as I could possibly be. But I persevered. I wrote everyday and I joined a local RWA writers’ group where the women were generous with their knowledge and encouragement. Eleven years and fifteen books later, I finally published with Siren Publishing. Then after a crazy two and a half years and forty-five books, I tried my hand at self-publishing. And the rest is history.

If you really want something, you have to go after it.

Dina Banks wanted to buy the building that housed her dress boutique. And she did. Because her brother was a contractor, she asked him to renovate the top two floors for her new home. Her dream was getting closer. Then her brother had to go and ask his partner, Alex Hendrix, to do the work- and that was bad. Why? Because since the age of five Dina has had a crush on Alex.

Dating his co-workers’ sister is dumb, but when their paths cross after many years, Alex has a hard time keeping his distance. He plans to be professional only until the remodel is complete. Then he’ll chase his dream.

Is he successful? Nope.

At least not at first, but the attraction is too strong and they give into their urges. When complications derail their budding affair, can their awakening passions keep them on the path to love?

S.J. MAYLEE: I’ve always been a reader, but dance was my focus early in life, especially performing on stage and acting out a story I set to choreography. In my early 20s while dancing on scholarship with a company in Chicago, my knees started their protest. Fast forward many years, I was woken in the middle of the night by the latest story running through my thoughts. I opened Word and typed out the scene. First there was relief, because I could read the scene that wasn’t leaving me alone, but then a new scene demanded to be written. Just like dance, I knew I’d need to dedicate myself to studying the craft and I got to work, reading more than ever before. My dedication and hard work paid off. Two years later my debut was released by Evernight Publishing. My road was indirect and misleading at times, but I finally read all the signs and here I am.

Jane thinks she’s ready to take the risks her business and love life desperately need. Rob’s still punishing himself for a broken relationship that wasn’t meant to last. When the pair let an opportunity pass them by, fate steps in and throws them back together.

An evening of pitch black unrestrained passion at Club Blind opens her eyes to life’s possibilities. Now, if they don’t fight past their personal demons, they might never truly discover what they need most. If they can open their hearts, it might lead them directly to each other where they can discover their truth. If not, they may forever stay in the blind.

JAMES COX: Hello, I’m James Cox. I write gay romance/erotica usually with some crazy twist. My writing didn’t start until later in life. When I came out to my parents I was gay, they kicked me out of the house. I only had the clothes on my back but I was lucky that a friend took me in. Immediately, I got a job and worked toward making it out in the big, bad world by myself. It wasn’t until I was settled in my own apartment that I played with the idea of writing. I always loved reading but never tried my own story. A friend inspired and encouraged me to write something down. It was my first story, The Last Cowboy and was gracious picked up by Evernight Publishing. Since then I’ve meet wonderful, accepting readers. It didn’t matter to them who I found attractive. To them it was all about the story I weaved with wild characters like my latest, Malvern with his tails and horns.

Horns, tail and rainbow cum...

What happens when a thief, posing as a king, gets his own harem? Malvern is a fake king, just trying to survive long enough for a ship to whisk him away to another planet. He never expects to get a ragtag harem of near rejects. One is a human that volunteered, that guy makes Malvern long for domination. Then there’s the redhead with scars on his back, red eyes and oh yeah, his cum glows in the dark. The last man in this messed up harem is in chains because he’s too violent.

When a wicked storm hits he’s forced to make a hard decision, stick with his own survival or save their lives. He also has limited time to make that choice because the real king is on his way to claim the throne.

OLIVIA BLACK: Like most writers, I’m a reader. After reading hundreds of romance novels, I decided to write my own happily ever after. When my first book was complete, I submitted it to Siren Publishing and waited to hear back. As the weeks passed, my anxiety level rose. What if they reject me? What if I’m not good enough to be published? Finally, after almost five weeks, I received an email from Siren. They accepted my first book (Bella’s Rodeo written under the name, Alicia White). I was shocked to say the least. But that one email changed the course of my life and I couldn’t be happier. With each book, I anxiously await the approval notice, and still wonder if I’ll be rejected. I’ve been blessed. I get to write romance and I get to fall in love over and over again.

Oliver Davis lives in a rundown neighborhood, in a bad part of town where drugs and prostitution are prevalent. He's spent his life on the streets, living the only way he knows how, by selling his body for cash. When a PI arrives at his corner with a manila envelope, Oliver is skeptical until he opens it. His entire life changes in a matter of seconds.

Hank Ramsey is the sheriff in the no name town outside of Telluride, Colorado. He loves his job. The only busy nights are the occasional drunks. When he goes out to the ranch to talk to Oliver about a fight at Marilyn’s, the man manages to push all of Hank’s buttons. He takes Oliver to jail for the night to teach the young man a lesson, but things quickly take a turn for the worse when Oliver tries to seduce him.